BILL NUMBER: AB 1236	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 16, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Fletcher

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2009

   An act to  amend Section 5000   add and
repeal Section 6405  of the Penal Code, relating to the
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1236, as amended, Fletcher. Department of Corrections and
 Rehabilitation.   Rehabilitation: United
Through Reading Transitions Program.   Existing law provides
that the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall
implement in every state prison literacy programs that are designed
to ensure that parole inmates are able to achieve a 9th-grade reading
level. Existing law also provides that the visitation of inmates has
an important role in establishing and maintaining a meaningful
connection with the inmate's family.   This bill would
provide, in addition, that the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation, to the extent existing resources designated to family
service or community partnership programs are available or
additional resources are appropriated, shall establish a pilot
program of unspecified duration in an unspecified number of state
prisons that implements the United Through Reading Transitions
Program, the purpose of which is to foster emotional bonding between
inmates and their children and provide the children of inmates with a
chance to see their parents in a positive light by enabling the
inmates to read books aloud on DVD and send the books and recordings
home.  
   Existing law states that any reference in code to the Department
of Corrections is a reference to the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation.  
   This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to that
provision. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    Section 6405 is added to the  
Penal Code   , to read:  
   6405.  (a) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, to
the extent existing resources designated to family service or
community partnership programs are available or additional resources
for the purposes specified in this section are appropriated, shall
establish a pilot program implementing the United Through Reading
Transitions Program, the purpose of which is to foster emotional
bonding between inmates and their children and provide the children
of inmates with a chance to see their parents in a positive light by
enabling the inmates to read books aloud on DVD and send the books
and recordings home.
   (b) The pilot program shall be established in the following state
prisons: ____
   (c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
____, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, ____, deletes or extends
that date.  
  SECTION 1.    Section 5000 of the Penal Code is
amended to read:
   5000.  Commencing July 1, 2005, any reference to the Department of
Corrections in this or any other code refers to the Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Adult Operations.
   Nothing in the act enacted by Senate Bill 737 of the 2005-06
Regular Session shall be construed to alter the primary objective of
adult incarceration under the reorganized Department of Corrections
and Rehabilitation, which remains public safety as articulated in the
legislative findings and declarations set forth in Section 1170.